Sink in moment #1: Bicycle, bicycle... I want to ride my bicycle (on Governor's Island).
My friend Melanie (from my University days long, long ago) arrived for a visit this past weekend and we took a water taxi over to Governor's Island, a former US Army facility and Atlantic Headquarters of the US Coast Guard. Now it is an artist's haven complete with outdoor Summer concerts, people picnicking, and visitors cycling to their hearts content.
We rented bicycles. But these were not just any bicycles, people. They were pretty, powder-blue girl bicycles. C'mon... seriously, could these bicycles be any cuter?!
It was a gorgeous, sunny day and when we rode by the water, the Statue of Liberty was so close it felt like if we stretched our arms far enough, we might just reach her.
Wild, choppy waters. Views of the NYC landscape in the distance. Safely away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan among people who picnic, skip rope, hang in hammocks, play and relax.
A sink-in moment for certain.
Sink-in moment #2: The sound of the wind in the big, old trees of Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
My uncle Paul from Ireland once said when he is dying, all he wants is the smell of onions and garlic cooking. This is how I feel about the sound of wind going through the leaves of a big, old tree. It is my absolute favourite sound in the world.
A rush of breeze through thick, lush leaves = heaven.
In visiting Prospect Park in Brooklyn, we went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and I got to hear my favorite sound many, many times. The wind in the big, old (antique-like) trees soothed my sun-scorched self. It's a sound so essential to me that I can't believe how absent it is from my New York City living experience.
The sound reminds me of happy childhood Summer days, lying on my bed daydreaming as I watched the leaves bob and weave on the windsurf, the dappled light somehow finding its way through the greenery, dancing and glinting.
Sink-in moment #3: Brooklyn's finest flowers & lily pads...
I know, I know. The fact that I have fallen in love with flowers is a sure sign I am aging. Melanie and I did confirm that when we were younger, we never cared much for things like flowers or birds. I mean they were there - and we didn't hate them. But we had seemingly much more important things to do back then. Somehow, with the passage of time, it happened. I fell in love with flowers. Big time. Here are a few of my favourites from Brooklyn's Botanical Gardens...
And lily pads? Seriously. I had no idea that lily pads could be this stunning. Truly. Here is a sampling...
The sun was getting ready to settle down for the evening and as the gardens began to close (in preparation for a wedding reception that evening) I tried to capture some of the sunset beauty...
Sink-in moment #4: Home-cooked food (Melanie-style)
One of the (many) things I admire about my friend Melanie is her cooking ability. She's a genius. And not only is she good at it - she really, really loves it. Even when her husband suggests just ordering a pizza, she would rather cook. Always. And this weekend was no exception (lucky me!). On her last evening, we shopped at Whole Foods and got home around 9pm to start cooking. The food was divine. We opened a bottle of Prosecco and talked until three in the morning.
This photo, below, captures the essence of my NYC foodie experience with my dear friend, Melanie (this image is a framed napkin hanging on the wall of Greenwich Village restaurant, Perilla).
Sink-in moment #5: Simply stepping out...
I truly believe that life is mostly just about getting out into it. Stepping away from the comfort. The ease. The air conditioning. Getting a little uncomfortable. Standing up and meeting life.
find life experiences and swallow them whole. travel.meet many people.go down some dead ends and some dark alleys.try everything.exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life.- Lawrence K. Fish
Much love from Manhattan,
Erica
